Rip Van Winkle lived near the Kaatskill
Mountains (sic) in a village that was very old and was founded by the
Dutch Colonists. Rip had lived in that village since it was a
province of England. Rip was a good, kind man, a nice
neighbor and an obedient husband. He was very popular. Rip was
considered blessed by others because of his good wife. Rip was
also very popular around the other wives. The children became
joyous when Rip came by because he played their sports, made them
toys, taught them to fly kites, shoot marbles, and
also told them stories. Rip fished all day and also hunted for
squirrels and wild pigeons. Rip always attended to everyones
business but his. For Rip to do family chores was impossible. Rip
never worked on his farm. It was considered the worst one in the
village because all it grew was corn and potatoes. Rip had a son
named Rip, who was named after him. Rip Van Winkle was known to starve for a
penny than work for a pound. Rip did not care very much, but his
wife always attended to his needs.

Rips best friend was his dog, Wolf. His
tail drooped to the ground and he walked silently, glaring at
Dame Van Winkle and the door all the time. Derick Van Bummel was
a school master. Nicholas Vedder was patriarch of the village,
and landlord of the Inn. He hardly spoke, but smoked his pipe constantly.
His friends understood him perfectly. When he was
displeased, he smoked his pipe and let out angry puffs of smoke,
but when he was pleased, he inhaled the smoke slowly and quietly.

The only way Rip could take time away from his
work on the farm and his nagging spouse was to go through the
woods with Wolf up to the mountains.

One fine autumn day, Rip had climbed to one of
the highest points of the Kaatskill Mountains (sic), hunting for
squirrel. He was very tired and threw himself down on a steep green
hill. From an opening between the trees, he could see the Hudson
River far, far below him. On the other side below him, he saw a
small empty valley.

When he was about to leave the mountain, he
heard someone call his name. He looked around and saw no one, so
he started to leave again when the same person called him once
more. Rip looked in the direction of the voice and saw a short,
square built, old man, with thick bushy hair and a grizzled
beard. He wore clothes of the antique Dutch fashion. They went
into an amphitheater.

Rips companion poured what was in his keg
into large glasses. Rip tasted the liquor which lead to another
taste, again and again. He repeatedly filled his glass until he
was drunk and fell asleep.

When he woke up, he found
himself on the same green hill where he first saw the old man. He
got up to look for his things and tried to retrace his path from
the night before, but he could not find the amphitheater or
anyone who was there. With no hope, he headed home.

He went into town and did not recognize
anyone. Even their style of living was different. When he
scratched his chin, he found his beard had grown a foot long. The
town had lots more people in it than before. With difficulty he
found his way back to his house which had fallen apart.

As Rip was trying to convince the bystanders
that he was Rip Van Winkle, a woman with a small child pushed her
way though the crowd. Rip asked what her name was. She replied
Judith Gardenier. Then Rip asked what her fathers name was.
She replied Rip Van Winkle.

She
began to explain how he went away twenty years ago and never
returned. Then Rip knew it was his daughter. He hugged the woman
and child and said, "I am your father." At this point
the villagers began to realize that he really was Rip Van Winkle.

Rip tried to establish his new life with his
daughter and her family and with the villagers.